A study by Dr Otitoju Beulah, a member of the African Centre of Excellence for Water and Environmental Research and a researcher at Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State, has raised fresh concerns about the quality of drinking water available to Nigerian households.
The study, with samples taken from major and minor waterbodies in Osun, Oyo and Lagos states, indicated alarmingly high concentrations of industrial pollutants and pharmaceutical residues in both surface and groundwater sources, with levels spiking during the rainy season.
Otitoju made her research findings known in a statement.
The research, she noted, revealed the presence of these pollutants in rivers, streams, wells, boreholes, tap water, as well as in packaged water.
Otitoju’s research pointed out that infants and toddlers are particularly vulnerable, facing higher risks of non-carcinogenic effects when consuming water from these contaminated sources.
Her findings further indicated that while the pollutants pose risks to adults, infants and toddlers face significantly higher vulnerability due to their lower body weight and higher water intake relative to their size.
“My recent study, published in international journals, shed light on pollutants that most people have never heard of but may be consuming daily. One such study examined dihydroxybenzenes, compounds like catechol and hydroquinone, commonly linked to industrial pollutants and pharmaceutical waste,” she said.
“My team’s fieldwork across major and minor waterbodies in Osun, Oyo, and Lagos States indicated alarmingly high concentrations of these chemicals in both surface and groundwater sources, with levels spiking during the rainy season. These sources include but are not limited to rivers, streams, springs, wells, boreholes, tap water and most shockingly, packaged water.
“These compounds don’t just threaten human health. They also negatively affect aquatic life, impacting the natural order of ecosystems that people depend on for food and livelihood.”
Beyond chemical contamination, the study also highlighted the impact of Nigeria’s poor waste management system on bacterial pollution.
Beulah linked the problem to rapid urbanisation, inadequate regulation and limited public awareness about proper waste disposal practices.
She noted that the absence of strong regulatory enforcement allows harmful effluents to seep into water sources that communities rely on for drinking and cooking.
She advocated affordable water treatment solutions for families to protect themselves, including agricultural-waste filters, modified sand filters and solar disinfection units.
These methods, she stated, offer practical, low-cost options suited to local conditions.
0 Comments:
Post a Comment